Professional Documents
Culture Documents
NCM 102 - Concepts of Illness
NCM 102 - Concepts of Illness
Rehabilitative
Illness and Disease
Health and Wellness
WHO 1947
“Health is a state of complete, physical, mental &
social well being and not merely the absence of
disease or infirmity”
Health
DISEASE
Derived from the word “desaise’ which means
uneasiness or discomfort
An Alteration in body functions resulting in a
reduction of capacities or a shortening of normal life
span (Kozier)
A state of disharmony of mind, body, emotion and
spirit (Craven)
An alteration in body functions resulting in a reduction
of capacities or shortening of the normal life span
Illness and Disease
ILLNESS
A condition causing harm or pain (Naidoo)
A state of diminished physical, emotional, intellectual,
social, developmental or spiritual functioning (Kozier)
A product of disharmonious interactions between mind,
body, emotions and spirit; deviation from normal state
(Craven)
The inability of an individual’s adaptive response to
maintain physical and emotional balance (Daniels)
This is a highly personal state in which the person feels
unhealthy or ill
ILLNESS BEHAVIOR
Involves ways individuals describe, monitor
and interrupt their symptoms, take remedial
actions and use their health care systems.
Common Causes of Diseases:
Biologic agents: (viruses, bacteria, rickettsia, fungi,
protozoa, helminthes, & toxins)
Inherited genetic defects
Developmental defects from exposure to
environmental elements (viruses, chemicals)
Physical agents (temperature extremes, radiation and
electricity)
Chemical agents (alcohol, strong acids and bases,
drugs, heavy metals, industrial poisons)
Tissue responses to irritation or injury
Faulty chemical or metabolic processes
Emotional and physical reaction to stress
Classification of Illness
Acute Illness
Characteristics: severe symptoms of relatively
short duration
Symptoms often appear abruptly and subside
quickly, depending on the cause: may or may
not require intervention by health care
professional. Some are serious (surgical
intervention) or Mild (subside w/o medical
intervention or by OTC drugs)
Classification of Illness
Chronic Illness
This lasts for extended period of time (6
months or longer)
It has a slow onset often with periods of
remission and exacerbation
ILLNESS BEHAVIORS
PRECIPITATING FACTORS
Are conditions that hasten a result of the disease
Example is a stressful event
THE FIVE STAGES OF ILLNESS
SCHAFER, 1992:
“Arousal of mind and body in response to
demand made upon them”